Palo Alto Police Seeking Applicants For 'Citizens Police Academy'

PALO ALTO, CA – The Palo Alto Police Department is accepting applications for its next Basic Citizens Police Academy, an eight-week course designed to foster understanding and communication between community members and the police.

Instructors are public safety employees who present patrol procedures, laws of arrest, search and seizure, community relations, criminal investigations, evidence collection, police accountability, use of force and officer safety, disaster preparedness and more. Students can go on ride-alongs with patrol officers, participate in “sit-alongs” with dispatchers and experience a force-options video simulator.

The Citizens Police Academy runs for eight consecutive Wednesday nights, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at various City of Palo Alto facilities. The session begins on Jan. 11 and ends March 1. There is no cost, but the class is limited to 25 students.

Applications are due Wednesday, Dec. 7, and applicants must be at least 16 years of age, live or work in Palo Alto or the immediate surrounding community, be free of felony convictions, not have misdemeanor convictions within the past year, and be able to successfully complete a criminal background check.

After submitting the written application, applicants will be interviewed by the Citizens Police Academy coordinator before the criminal background check is performed.

Preference is given to Palo Alto residents, community members who work in Palo Alto, and people employed by the City of Palo Alto.

The Palo Alto PD first offered its Citizens Police Academy in 1995, and ran 24 classes that produced more than 350 graduates. Several graduates became volunteers with the police department, and others went on to become career officers. The program was discontinued in 2009 due to staffing reductions within the department, but returned this year with Class 25 completing a redesigned curriculum on Nov. 2.

Three Basic Citizens Police Academy classes are planned during 2017, with the other sessions in April and September.

Advanced Citizens Police Academy courses are also slated to return in 2017, where graduates of the Basic Citizens Police Academy can attend free one-night sessions that focus on a particular area or specialty within law enforcement. Past Advanced Citizens Police Academy topics have included sexual assault investigations, identity theft protection and SWAT.

Interested members of the community may download a Basic Citizens Police Academy application here.

Completed applications should be emailed to pd@cityofpaloalto.org, sent via U.S. mail to the Palo Alto Police Department (attention to Citizens Police Academy), or dropped off at the police station front desk during business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For questions or additional information, email pd@cityofpaloalto.org.

• ALSO SEE: When To See Santa At Stanford Shopping Center

--Image via PAPD